Dan Slott and Javier Rodríguez’s Reckoning War: Trial of the Watcher #1 forces Uatu to reconsider his role in the Marvel Universe
Between the destruction of Earth’s moon and Mr. Fantastic’s potentially fatal predicament, Dan Slott’s Reckoning War is already sending shockwaves throughout the Marvel Universe. The newest installment of the crossover event, the beautifully drawn Reckoning War: Trial of the Watcher #1 by Slott and Javier Rodríguez presents Uatu and the audience with a staggering What If..? story that pays tribute to the early days of Marvel’s first family and explores the politics of the Watchers.
In Reckoning War: Trial of the Watcher #1, Uatu — the watcher of Earth — is confronted by his father and forced to revisit his long history of breaking his oath to help Earth’s heroes. Then, the watchers examine a world where Uatu had refrained from getting involved. They watch as the Fantastic Four fight Galactus and the Silver Surfer by themselves, struggling to protect the planet from the mysterious cosmic threat. When the battle takes a surprising turn, Uatu finds himself re-examining his role in the Marvel Universe.
On one level, Reckoning War: Trial of the Watcher #1 is an odd break in the action of the epic event. After the events of Fantastic Four #41, it is difficult to fully invest in an alternate history of the Marvel Universe when heroes’ lives hang in the balance on the other side of the galaxy. Then again, there’s something truly impressive about the ways this issue functions as a stand-alone What If..? story while still furthering the plot of the Reckoning War. By revisiting the Fantastic Four’s first encounter with Galactus, Slott is able to connect this event with even more of Marvel’s history and pay homage to the characters’ golden age. But this is more than a clever tribute to a previous story. Slott asks some tough questions about whether or not Uatu had any right to interfere and whether or not he helped in the long run. These questions have the potential to recontextualize all of the Watcher’s actions and provide a new perspective on the resilient nature of Earth’s heroes.
As good as Slott’s writing is, Rodríguez’s artwork steals the show in Reckoning War: Trial of the Watcher #1. His depiction of Uatu’s experience in the Watchers’ Seat of all Knowledge creates an otherworldly montage that summarizes the character’s history. Every page layout is absolutely stunning. Rodríguez’s stylized approach reaches new heights when the Fantastic Four go toe to toe with Galactus. His bold color choices help to increase the drama while also adding some pop-art psychedelia to the proceedings. But these artistic flourishes don’t distract from the action. In fact, they help Rodríguez build to a chaotic, breathtaking climax, reminding even the most cynical comic reader just how fun and exciting Marvel’s first family can be.
Reckoning War: Trial of the Watcher #1 tells a wonderful Fantastic Four adventure that stands alone as an exciting glimpse into one of Marvel’s alternate histories and functions as an interesting chapter of the Reckoning War. Slott and Rodríguez do an excellent job balancing the story’s high stakes with healthy portions of fun. This issue is sure to impress anyone with a fondness for Marvel’s first family.
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